bbbw 5200 encountering the biblical world new orleans ......bbbw 5200 encountering the biblical...

BBBW 5200 Encountering the Biblical World, 1

BBBW 5200 Encountering the Biblical World

New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Biblical Studies

Fall 2020, Online, Aug 24 – Dec 17

Dr. Daniel Warner

Associate Professor of Old Testament and Archaeology

Office: Orland FL

Cell: 407-468-4251

[email protected]

Grader/Assistant

Sebastian Suma - [email protected]

Mission Statement

New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and Leavell College prepare servants to walk with

Christ, proclaim His truth, and fulfill His mission.

Core Value Focus

The seminary has five core values.

1. Doctrinal Integrity: Knowing that the Bible is the Word of God, we believe it, teach it,

proclaim it, and submit to it. This course addresses Doctrinal Integrity specifically by preparing

students to grow in understanding and interpreting of the Bible.

2. Spiritual Vitality: We are a worshiping community emphasizing both personal spirituality

and gathering together as a Seminary family for the praise and adoration of God and instruction

in His Word. Spiritual Vitality is addressed by reminding students that a dynamic relationship

with God is vital for effective ministry.

3. Mission Focus: We are not here merely to get an education or to give one. We are here to

change the world by fulfilling the Great Commission and the Great Commandments through

the local church and its ministries. This course addresses Mission Focus by helping students

understand the biblical foundations for fulfilling the Great Commission and the Great

Commandments.

4. Characteristic Excellence: What we do, we do to the utmost of our abilities and resources

as a testimony to the glory of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Characteristic Excellence is

addressed by preparing students to excel in their ability to interpret Scripture, which is

foundational to effective ministry.

5. Servant Leadership: We follow the model of Jesus and exert leadership and influence

through the nurture and encouragement of those around us. Servant Leadership is modeled by

classroom deportment.

The core value focus for this academic year is Mission Focus.


Curriculum Competencies NOBTS faculty members realize that all ministers need to develop specific competencies if they

are going to have an effective ministry. To increase the likelihood of NOBTS graduates having an

effective ministry, the faculty developed a competency-based curriculum after identifying seven

essential competencies necessary for effective ministry. All graduates are expected to have at least

a minimum level of competency in all of the following areas:

1. Biblical Exposition: to interpret and communicate the Bible accurately.

2. Christian Theological Heritage: To understand and interpret Christian theological

heritage and Baptist polity for the church.

3. Disciple Making: To stimulate church health through mobilizing the church for missions,

evangelism, discipleship, and church growth.

4. Interpersonal Skills: To perform pastoral care effectively, with skills in communication

and conflict management.

5. Servant Leadership: To serve churches effectively through team ministry.

6. Spiritual and Character Formation: To provide moral leadership by modeling and

mentoring Christian character and devotion.

7. Worship Leadership: To facilitate worship effectively.

Course Description

A survey is undertaken of a wide range of materials and issues related to the background of the

Old and New Testaments, including: archaeology, historical geography, religion, manners and

customs, economics, social concerns, and the literature of the ancient Near East and the

Greco-Roman world. The course is designed to help students bridge the temporal and cultural

gaps between contemporary society and the historical eras of the Bible.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete the course will:

1. Be able to apply their knowledge and comprehension of the background of the Bible

including: archaeology, historical geography, religion, manners and customs, historical and

social setting, and the literature of the ancient world to the process of interpreting and

communicating the Bible accurately.

2. Value the necessity of bridging the temporal and cultural gaps between contemporary

society and the biblical period.

3. Be able to identify the physical geographical elements of the land of Israel and the Ancient

Near East.

4. Be able to locate the site of significant Biblical events of the Old and New Testaments

Course Texts:

To be read in conjunction with class lectures (see Blackboard)

1. English Bible (a good translation)

2. Arnold, Bill T. & Beyer, Bryan E., 2002, Readings from the Ancient Near East, Baker Book

House, (RANE)

3. Brisco, Thomas, 1998, Holman Bible Atlas by (Broadman & Holman Publishers, (HBA)

4. Greer, Jonathan S.; John W. Hilber; and John H. Walton, eds. Behind the Scenes of the Old

Testament: Cultural, Social, and Historical Contexts. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2018.

(BSOT)

5. Warner, Dan, Encountering the Biblical World Course Workbook (Posted on Blackboard)


Recommended reading:

1. Hoerth, A. Archaeology & The Old Testament. (AOT), (Baker, 1998), This an optional

reading but heavily suggested especially if one has limited knowledge of the biblical world.

Note within the reading schedule of this course reading, suggestions are given from this text

that corresponds to the topics discussed.

2. Zondervan Handbook to the Bible. ed. by Pat and David Alexander (Zondervan, 1999)

3. Rainey, A. & Notley, S. The Sacred Bridge. by (Carta, Jerusalem, 2006), Best atlas out

there!

4. Stager, L. & King, P. Life in Biblical Israel. by (Westminster John Knox Press, 2001)

5. Wright & M. Bird. The New Testament in Its World. by N.T. (Zondervan, 2019) - hot off the

press!

Course Teaching Methodology

This course consists of grasping the geographical (geological structure), chronological, historical

and cultural settings of the biblical world through -1) the require reading (class textbooks, and

workbook extra materials found here that one is required to know); 2) viewing PowerPoint

presentations which contain maps and other graphic media to help visualize and comprehend the

historical and geographical settings (one can download them all but cannot publish materials form

them) this is supplemented with 3) video lectures (but limited in number).

1. Materials for the class are located in Course Documents on Blackboard they consist of: the

following are located: Map Quizzes, Exams, and Related Materials (extra maps, study

guides for exams, and extra articles for you to enhance your understanding and knowledge),

please make use of them.

2. There are 4 Sections and/or Units of Lectures to work through. Each Unit is broken down

into a manageable set of Lectures delivered via PowerPoint and video presentations.

Lectures are supplemented with outside reading from class texts as assigned in Course

Schedule. Do make sure to do the readings best before viewing the Lectures and do take

notes adding to the study guide supplied, for they will be helpful in studying for exams.

Consult the Table of Content of each class textbook, for they do correspond to the class

lectures, for the class follows a chronological order.

3. Lectures include (expanded from above):

1) A Workbook divided into 8 Sections (1-8), which are notes that correspond with the

PowerPoint lectures noted below. There are added materials here that will be required

for exams.

2) PowerPoint presentations one study & work through following a

numerical/chronological order. They fall into 2 parts in most cases, consisting of a

lecture followed by slides emphasizing the lecture & related geography.

3) Video presentation – they are limited and, in most cases, consist of a summary of the

lecture supplying one with the necessary information needed for the course.

4) The Notes and Lectures should be labeled the same (page numbers are given in the

PowerPoints which correspond to the Workbook) if there are any problems please

e-mail me or call.


Course Requirements

1. Map Quizzes (3 total) – Get to know the World & land of the Bible, see handout “Regions,

Cities to Know” for list of regions, cities and places to identify for the quizzes (see also extra

detailed maps for you to use found in Course Documents). You will need to consult these maps

besides class text and other Bible geography books; as noted, I have also placed many maps for

you on Blackboard (under Study Helps) for use in both study and personal presentations.

(**Remember many illustrations & photos used in this course are copy righted and cannot be

published w/o written permission from me).

Quiz 1 = Land of Israel Includes: Regions, Mountains, Valleys, Rivers, and Bodies of Waters of

Palestine (HBA Map 7 for help)

Quiz 2 = Tribes of Israel & OT Cites (Consists of 1 map for Tribes & 1 map for OT cities)

Quiz 3 = NT World (Mediterranean) of Cities & Kingdoms/Countries (Consists of 1 map for

Kingdoms/Countries for Mediterranean world & 1 map for NT cities)

2. 2 Exams – note there are study guides available for both midterm and final. They are only

guides to help one organize and know what materials will be covered on the exams. Information

for the exams come from class notes, power point lectures, and reading it is up to the student

to gather the necessary information! Test will include matching (i.e. dates, inscriptions,

know handout study guide), multiple choice, some fill in the blank, and short essays (need to be

thorough) usually over various topics (i.e. Patriarchs, Exodus, Moses, Philistines, Shephelah,

David, etc.).

3. Discussion Board (BB): There are 5 various topics given while moving through the course on

DB (see class schedule) for each student to submit a comment about (needs to be a full

paragraph and hopefully some thought ) and then follow-up with interactions with two other

students post in the class (more than a one-liner or just agreeing with the author’s statement).

4. Research Paper - will be posted on Blackboard. Students have three options to write on:

A). A historical geography topic of a major region in Israel (i.e. Hill Country, Negev,

Shephelah, Coastal Plain, etc.). Research for a region: should include:

Geological/topographical make-up of the region

The region's historical significance (its main function within Israel proper), comprehend

how the regions was used, i.e. as defensive, commercial, agricultural, or maybe a

combination of all, do some critical homework here

All major roads (locate both local and international), where did they go and why

Key cities (explain what is their main importance, include key archaeological

excavations)

All bodies of water

Map of the region, locating key cites, roads etc. would be fine (but not a part of the page

requirement)

B). Research on a significant Site/City: which should include:

Is history and the identification of the biblical site (where the site/city is located does not

matter Israel, Mesopotamia, Egypt etc.)

Why it is located where it is,

Function in history,

Who controlled it,

Role it played in the development of the country it is in, and so forth (etc.)


C). Topical – a topic relevant to this course; see Blackboard for list of suggested topics. Make

sure to get to the point, argue & present the significant elements of your research, have good

interaction with sources (note original firsthand sources are the best, i.e. ancient texts,

documents, eyewitnesses’ accounts etc.).

Format - Length 11-12 pages (title page and bibliography do not count and there is 5pts off

for each page short of 11), double-spaced, standard 12 pt. font (e.g. Times New Roman). The

paper should follow Turabian format for which a guide can be found on the Course Menu

Bar towards the bottom. Paper needs to be submitted in a Word Document, No PDF’s,

please!

Grading Criteria:

- Form & style and Spelling & grammar = 5% - make sure the theme is developed, logical,

coherent flow of thought. May need an outline to keep one focused.

- Research & bibliography = 10% - use first-hand sources when possible (sources from the

actual period one is dealing with), textbooks are secondary, by a good

bibliography one is showing me that you did your homework! Note: 20% of

bibliography should consist of sources from scholarly journals (1 ½ source per

typed page is the acceptable norm, 10 pages = 7 sources, etc.).

- Content = 85% - the argument, keep focused on the topic chosen with an eye on the key

issues and relevant data, well organized,

See Handout in BB: Suggested Paper Topics and Biblical Studies Journals for help!

Evaluation of Grade

1. Discussion Participation = 10%

2. Map Quizzes (3 total) = 25% - see syllabus for dates

3. Midterm Exam = 20% - Nov 2

4. Research Paper = 25% - Dec 10

5. Final Exam = 20% - Dec 17

Note the dates for the Midterm, Quizzes, and Assignments. Exceptions must be

approved by the professor prior to due date!

Technical Assistance For assistance regarding technology, consult ITC (504-816-8180) or the following websites:

1. [email protected] - Email for technical questions/support requests with the

Selfserve.nobts.edu site (Access to online registration, financial account, online transcript, etc.)

2. [email protected] - Email for technical questions/support requests with the

NOBTS Blackboard Learning Management System NOBTS.Blackboard.com.

3. [email protected] - Email for general technical questions/support requests.

4. www.NOBTS.edu/itc/ - General NOBTS technical help information is provided on this

website.

Course Policy


1. Attendance: See the Graduate Catalog

2. Make-up Work:

The student is responsible for lecture, work assignment changes, and or quiz/test changes

that may occurred during the class period. These are poste via announcements which are

mainly posted on BB, so check several times a week.

Make-up for a missed quiz/exam is not allowed unless the student has made prevision prior

to or immediately after the completion date (such as, in the case of hospitalization, death of

a family member, etc.) with the professor.

Late assignments – there is 2pts. per day reduction in grade for each day late, after 5 Days

the assignment is not counted.

Plagiarism on Written Assignments

NOBTS has a no tolerance policy for plagiarism. Plagiarism in certain cases may result in

expulsion from the seminary. See the NOBTS Student Handbook for definition, penalties, and

policies associated with plagiarism.

Text’s Abbreviations

AOT = Archaeology & the Old Testament (Hoerth)

BSOT = Behind the Scenes of the Old Testament: Cultural, Social, and Historical Contexts

HBA = Holman Bible Atlas, (Brisco)

RANE = Readings from the Ancient Near East, (Arnold & Beyer)

WKBK = Course Workbook – Available in Blackboard Course Documents

Lectures include Four Units to Work Through: Time frame consists of:

1. Unit 1 – (Aug 24-Sept 27): Setting the Stage

2. Unit 2 – (Sept 28-Nov 1): Patriarchs & Exodus

3. Unit 3 – (Nov 2-Dec 4): Conquest & Settlement & United & Divided Monarchy

4. Unit 4 – (Dec 5-17): NT Backgrounds: Jesus in the Galilee & Jerusalem

Course Schedule and Outline of Lectures to be Covered (Pace yourself!)


UNIT 1: Setting the Stage — In the Beginning!

August 24 – September 27 Workbook: Sections 1 &2

1. Introduction

Reading - AOT Chpt 1; HBA: 29-32; BSOT: Chpt 5

2. Geographical Overview: The Land of the Bible

Reading: HBA Part I (Ch 1-3, pp. 2-29); BSOT: Chpts 1-4

3. In the Beginning: Gen 1-11

Reading: Gen 1-1; AOT Chpt 9; HBA Ch 4, pp. 33-34; Creation: Ancient Near East, (ANE)

Mythology vs. Genesis Creation: RANE #4-6, 8, 9, 12, 13, 45; BSOT : Scripts to the ANE

-Chpts11-16

4. Rise of Urbanization Early Bronze Age: Egypt and Mesopotamia

Reading: AOT Chpt 2; HBA pp. 35-40; BSOT : Iconography Chpts 19-21

Quizzes, Exams, and Discussion Lists:

1. Discussion Board: In this and the following Discussion Board topics, each student is to submit a

comment and then follow-up with interactions with two of the other students in the class

Introduce yourself by Aug 28.

Contribute a comment to Geography Aug 31.

Contribute a comment to Creationism/Beginnings by Sept 14.

2. Map Quiz #1 - (Must be taken by Sept 27)

UNIT II: The Bronze Age - World of the Patriarchs & Exodus

September 28 – November 1, Workbook Part 3 &Parts of 4

1. Middle Bronze Age: World of the Patriarchs

Reading Assignments: AOT Chpt 4, 5, 6; HBA pp.41-51; RANE #14-16, 18, 21-26, 30; Gen

12-50

2. Late Bronze Age: World of Moses - The Political Setting of the Exodus, the Exodus &

Wilderness Wanderings

Reading Assignments: AOT Chp 7, 8 & 10: pp. 201-205; HBA pp. 52-74; RANE #17, 27-29,

31, 32, 55; Exodus 1-20; BSOT: Chpts 24, 32, 42-43, 46, 54

Read: “Sacrifices and Offerings,” by A. Rainey from Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the

Bible

Quizzes, Exams and Discussion Lists:

1. Discussion Board: Contribute a comment to World of the Patriarchs by October 11th

.

Remember to interact with at least two other student’s comments.

2. Map Quiz #2 - must be taken by/on/before midnight of October 26

3. Midterm - Must take exam by/on Nov 2, or/before midnight.

UNIT III: Late Bronze Age Continued & Into the Iron Age


November2 – December 4, Workbook: Section Parts of 4, 5 & 6

1. Conquest and Settlement - Joshua and Judges

Reading Assignments: AOT 10 & 11; HBA pp. 89-101; RANE #50; Joshua, Judges; BSOT:

Chpts 6, 25, 33, 50-52

2. Emergence of the Monarchy: From Tribe to Nation: The United Monarchy

Reading Assignments: AOT 12-14; HBA pp. 102-114; RANE #51, 54, 59; II Sam 1-12, I Kings

1-11 ; BSOT: Chpts 7, 17, 44-45, 49, 56, 59-64

3. Divided Monarchy/Kingdom: Fall of Samaria

Reading Assignments: AOT 15, 16; HBA pp. 115-141; RANE #39-43, 48; 1Kgs 12-2Kgs 17.

BSOT: Chpts 8, 27, 34, 36 & 37, 65

4. Southern Kingdom: Judah

Reading Assignments: AOT 17-19; HBA pp. 142-157; RANE 56-58, 60-62, 155; 2Kgs 18-25;

BSOT: Chpts 9, 28-30, 38-40 & 35


1. Discussion Board: Contribute a comment to the Joshua & the Conquest by Nov 16th

Contribute a comment to the Iron Age by Nov 29th

UNIT #4: New Testament Backgrounds

December 5-17, Workbook 7 & 8

1. Jesus in Galilee

Reading Assignments: OTA: 20; HBA pp. 207-215; BSOT Chpts 10, 41 & 31: Matthew 1-20

2. Jesus in Jerusalem

Reading Assignments: HBA pp. 216-235; BSOT: Chpt 18; Matthew 21-28; Luke 19-24


1. Discussion Board: Contribute a comment to the NT Backgrounds by Dec 11th

.

2. RESEARCH PAPER Due Date: Post marked by Dec 10th

by midnight.

3. Map Quiz #3 must be taken by/on Dec 16th

before midnight.

4. FINAL: Must take exam by Dec 17, midnight, Blackboard closes then, and I cannot open it

after it closes!

Selected Bibliography

Dictionaries, etc.


Freedman, David N., ed. The Anchor Bible Dictionary. 6 vols. New York: Doubleday, 1992.

Craig Evans & Stanley Porter., eds. Dictionary of New Testament Backgrounds. Leicester:

InterVarsity Press, 2000.

Gerald F. Hawthorne, et. al. eds. Dictionary of Paul and his Letters. Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press,

1993.

Gralph P. Martin & Peter H. Davids ed., Dictionary of the Later New Testament and Its

Developments. 1997.

Joel B. Green, et. al. eds. Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels. Leicester: Intervarsity Press, 1992.

Master, D., ed. The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Bible and Archaeology. Oxford: Oxford

University Press. 2013.

Meyers, Eric M., ed. The Oxford Encyclopedia of Archaeology in the Near East. 5 vols. New

York: Oxford University Press, 1997.

Negev, Avraham, and S. Gibson. Archaeological Encyclopedia of the Holy Land. New York:

Continuum, 2001.

Pritchard, James, ed. Ancient Near Eastern Texts: Relating to the Old Testament, 2nd ed.,

Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1955.

. Ancient Near East in Pictures: Relating to the Old Testament. 2d ed. Princeton:

Princeton University Press, 1969.

Redford, Donald B. ed. The Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt. 3 vols. Oxford: Oxford

University Press. 2001.

Sasson, J.M., ed. Civilizations of the Ancient Near East. 2 vols. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson.

2000.

Stern, Ephraim, ed. The New Encyclopedia of Archaeological Excavations in the Holy Land. 4

vols. Jerusalem: The Israel Exploration Society, 1993.

Atlases

Aharoni, Y.., et. al The Macmillan Bible Atlas (3rd

ed.), New York: Macmillan Publishing Co.,

1993

Bahat, Dan, with Rubenstein, Chaim T. Trans. Shlomo Ketko. The Illustrated Atlas of Jerusalem.

New York: Simon & Schuster, 1990

Bimson, J.J. et.al., New Bible Atlas. Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press, 1985.

Cleave, Richard. Pictorial Archive: ANE History; Student Map Manual. Jerusalem, 1975.

Frank, Harry Thomas (ed.) Atlas of the Bible Lands. Maplewood, NJ: Hammond 1977

Laney, J. Carl. Baker’s Concise Bible Atlas. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1988

May, Herbert G., ed. Oxford Bible Atlas. 2d ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 1974.

Rasmussen, C. Zondervan NIV Atlas of the Bible. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1989.

Wright, Paul H. Rose Then and Now Bible Map Atlas. Torrance, CA; Rose Publishing; Jerusalem:

Carta, 2012

Historical Geography

Abel, Felix M. Géographie de la Palestine. Tome II. Géographie Politique les Villes. 3d ed. Paris:

Librairie Lecoffre, 1967.

Aharoni, Yohanan. The Land of the Bible: A Historical Geography. Philadelphia: Westminster

Press, 1979.

Baly, Dennis. The Geography of the Bible. NY: Harper, 1957.

Beitzel, Barry J. The Moody Atlas of Bible Lands. Chicago: Moody Press, 1985. Maps are better

than Rasmussen while information is not as good but still very helpful.

Bimson, John J. (ed.), Baker Encyclopedia of Bible Places. Leicester: InterVarsity Press, 1995.

Cooke, Arthur William. Palestine in Geography and in History. London: Charles H. Kelly, 1901.


Crowther, Duane S. Atlas and Outline of the Life of Christ. Bountiful, UT: Horizon Publishers &

Distributors, 1982.

DeVries, LaMoine. Cities of the Biblical World. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1997.

Dorsey, David A. The Roads and Highways of Ancient Israel. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins

University Press, 1991.

Dowley, Tim. The Moody Guide to Bible Lands. Chicago: Moody Press, 1987.

Finegan, Jack. Discovering Israel: An Archaeological Guide to the Holy Land. Grand Rapids:

Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1981. Excellent and thorough guide by a neo-orthodox

theologian. Well researched and helpful in format.

Harrison, R.K., ed. Major Cities of the Biblical World. Nashville: Nelson, 1985.

Kallai, Z. Historical Geography of the Bible. Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1986

Kitchen, J. Howard. Holy Fields: An Introduction to the Historical Geography of the Holy Land.

London: Paternoster Press, 1955.

Orni, Efraim, and Efrat, Elisha. Geography of Israel. 4th rev. ed. Jerusalem: Israel Universities

Press, 1980. Great book for regional and modern geography. Careful and complete

scholarship.

Packer, J. I.; Tenney, Merrill C.; and White, William Jr., eds. The Land of the Bible. Nashville:

Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1985.

Pfeiffer, Charles F. Baker’s Bible Atlas. Rev. ed. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1973.

________, ed. The Biblical World: A Dictionary of Biblical Archaeology. Grand Rapids:

Baker Book House, 1966. ________, and Vos, Howard F. The Wycliffe Historical Geography

of Bible Lands. Chicago: Moody Press, 1967. Very useful volume for information about the

various areas and cities of the biblical narratives. Areas covered are the historical,

geographical, cultural, and some archeological. Very useful in preparing to teach or preach on

the missionary journeys of Paul.

Smith, George Adam. The Historical Geography of the Holy Land. 25th ed., 1931. Reprint,

Jerusalem: Ariel Publishing House, 1966.

Bible Handbooks

Hoerth, A., G. Mattingly, and E. Yamauchi (eds.). Peoples of the Old Testament World. Grand

Rapids: Baker, 1994.

Gower, Ralph. The New Manners and Customs of Bible Times. Chicago: Moody Press, 1987.

Matthews, Victor. Manners and Customs in the Bible. Peabody: Hendrickson, 1991.

Matthews, Victor and Don C. Benjamin. Social World of Ancient Israel 1250-587 BCE. Peabody:

Hendrickson, 1993.

The Illustrated Bible Dictionary. NY, London: Tyndale Publishers, 1980, 1986.

Van Der Woude, A.S., gen. ed. The World of the Bible. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1986.

Walton, John, et. al. The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament. Downers Grove:

InterVarsity Press, 2000

Wiseman, Donald J. ed. Peoples of Old Testament Times. Oxford: University Press, 1973.

Archaeology

Albright, William F. The Archaeology of Palestine. Middlesex: Penguin Books, 1949, rev. 1960,

reprinted by Peter Smith Publishers, 1971.

Ben-Tor, Amnon, ed. The Archaeology of Ancient Israel. NY: Yale, 1991.

Cline, E.H. Biblical Archeology: a very short introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

2009.


Finegan, J. The Archaeology of the New Testament. 2nd ed. Princeton: Princeton University Press,

1992.

Finkelstein, Israel. The Archaeology of the Israelite Settlement. Jerusalem: Israel Exploration

Society, 1988.

Galor, Katharina, and Hanswulf Bloedhorn. The Archaeology of Jerusalem: From the Origins to

the Ottomans. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2013.

Hoerth, A. Archaeology and the Old Testament. Baker, 1998.

Hoffmeier, James K. The Archaeology of the Bible. Oxford: Lion Hudson, 2008.

Kenyon, Kathleen M. The Bible and Recent Archaeology, London: British Museum Publications,

1978. Specialized work that is scholarly, technical, and liberal.

Killebrew, A.E. Biblical Peoples and Ethnicity. An Archaeological Study of Egyptians,

Canaanites, Philistines, and Early Israel, 1300-1100 B.C.E. Atlanta: Society of Biblical

Literature, 2005.

Levy, T. (ed.). The Archaeology of Society in the Holy Land. New York, Facts on File. 1995.

McRay, John. Archaeology and the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1991.

Magness, J. 2012. The Archaeology of the Holy Land: From the Destruction of Solomon’s Temple

to the Muslim Conquest. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Mazar, Amihai. Archaeology of the Land of the Bible, 10,000 - 586 B.C.E. Anchor Bible

Reference Library. New York: Doubleday, 1990.

Mazar, Benjamin, ed. Eretz-Israel, Archaeological, Historical and Geographical Studies. Vol. 15

(Yohanan Aharoni Memorial Volume). Jerusalem: Israel Exploration Society, 1981.

Meyer, E. (ed.). The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Archaeology in the Near East. Oxford: Oxford

University Press, 1997.

Meyers, Eric M. Archaeology, The Rabbis & Early Christianity. Nashville: Abingdon, 1981.

Moorey, Roger. Excavation in Palestine. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1981.

Murphy-O’Connor, Jerome. The Holy Land: An Archaeological Guide from Earliest Times to

1700. 3d ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 1992.

Negev, Avraham, ed. Archaeological Encyclopedia of the Holy Lands. Jerusalem: Weidenfeld &

Nicholson, 1972.

Reed, Jonathan L. Archaeology and the Galilean Jesus: A Re-examination of the Evidence.

Harrisburg: Trinity Press, 2000.

_____. The HarperCollins Visual Guide to the New Testament: What Archaeology Reveals About

the First Christians. New York: HarperCollins, 2007.

Routledge, Bruce. Moab in the Iron Age: Hegemony, Polity, Archaeology. Philadelphia:

University of Pennsylvania Press, 2004.

Shanks, Hershel, ed. Recent Archaeology in the Land of Israel. Washington, DC: Biblical

Archaeology Society, 1984.

Stern, Ephraim (ed.). The New Encyclopedia of Archaeological Excavations in the Holy Land.

Jerusalem: Carta, 1992.

______. Archaeology of the Land of the Bible, Vol. II: The Assyrian, Babylonian, and Persian

Periods (732 – 332 B.C.E.). New York: Doubleday.

Vaughn, Andrew G., and Ann E. Killebrew, eds. Jerusalem in Bible and Archaeology: The First

Temple Period. Society of Biblical Literature Symposium Series 18. Atlanta: Society of

Biblical Literature, 2003.

History

Ancient Near East

Craigie, Peter. Ugarit and the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1983.

Hallo, W.W. and Simpson, W.K. The Ancient Near East: A History. NY: Harcourt Brace


Jovanovich, 1971.

Lloyd, Seton. The Archaeology of Mesopotamia: From the Stone Age to the Persian Conquest.

London: Thames & Hudson, 1978.

Olmstead, A.T. History of the Assyrian Empire. Chicago: University Press, 1960

. History of the Persian Empire. Chicago: University Press, 1959.

Yamacuchi, Edwin. Persia and the Bible. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1990.

Egypt

Kathryn Bard (ed.) The Encyclopedia of the Archaeology of Ancient Egypt. New York:

Routledge Press, 1999.

Redford, Donald. Egypt, Canaan, and Israel in Ancient Times. Princeton: Princeton Univ. Press,

1992.

Redford, Donald B. Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt. London: Oxford, 2000.

Wilson, John A. The Culture of Ancient Egypt. Chicago: University Press, 1951.

Ancient Palestine

Albertz, A History of Israelite Religion in the Old Testament. Volume I: From the beginnings to the

End of the Monarchy (trans. John Bowden; Louisville: Westminster/John Knox, 1994)

Albertz, A History of Israelite Religion in the Old Testament Period, Volume 2; From the Exile to

the Maccabees (Louisville: Westminster/John Know, 1994)

Ahlstrom, The History of Ancient Palestine from the Paleolithic Period to Alexander's Conquest

(Sheffield: JSOT, 1992).

Avi-Yonah, Michael. The Holy Land: From the Persian to the Arab Conquest (536 BC-AD 640).

Grand Rapids: Baker, 1966.

Ben-Sasson (ed.), A History of the Jewish People (Cambridge: Harvard, 1976).

Bickerman, From Ezra to the Last of the Maccabees: Foundations of Post-Biblical Judaism (New

York: Schocken, 1962).

Bright, John. A History of Israel. 3rd ed. Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1981.

Bruce, F.F. Israel and the Nations. Grand Rapids: W.B Eerdmans, 1969. Rev 1998.

Cohen, From the Maccabees to the Mishnah. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1987.

Grabbe, An Introduction to First Century Judaism: Jewish Religion and History in the Second

Temple Period. Edinburgh: T & T Clark, 1996.

Hayes and Miller, Israelite and Judean History. London: SCM Press, 1977.

Noth, The History of Israel. London: SCM, 1958.

Schurer, The History of the Jewish People in the Age of Jesus Christ (175 B.C.-A.D. 135) (Revised

and Edited by Geza Vermes and Fergus Millar; Edinburgh: T & T Clark, 1973)

Shanks (ed.), Ancient Israel: A Short History from Abraham to the Roman Destruction of the

Temple. Washington DC: BAS, 1988.

Smith, Palestinian Parties and Politics That Shaped the Old Testament (Second ed.; London:

SCM, 1987) Vermes, The Dead Sea Scrolls in English (4th ed.; New York: Penguin, 1995)

Stern, E. Archaeology of the Land of the Bible, Volume II, Double Day, New York, 2001

Wellhausen, Prolegomena to the History of Ancient Israel (Translated from German). Meriden

Paperback edition, 1957; 1883.

Zevit, Z. 2001. The Religions of Ancient Israel. A Synthesis of Parallactic Approaches. New York:

Continuum

A BRIEF HISTORICAL SKETCH OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH


IN THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST

I. SURVEYS AND PILGRIMAGES

A. Helena-mother of Constantine identified sites such as in Bethlehem with the Church of

the Nativity and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.

B. Origen (c.230-254) ("We have visited the places to learn by inquiry of the footsteps of

Jesus and of his disciples and of the prophets.") + other C2-C3 AD church fathers note

local traditions.

C. Eusebius (c.325) - Chronicle of early searching for Holy places in Palestine --also in his

Onomasticon (4th section of research on biblical geography, 1 - 3 are lost) lists

alphabetically sites in Palestine w/ annotations.

D. Jerome (c.385-420) Finished translation of Latin Vulgate at Bethlehem Church of Nativity

and revised Eusebius' Onomasticon. Letters also mention sites.

E. Crusaders - identified numerous sites and built churches on scores of them.

*** Some suggest that Thomas Jefferson may have been the first to carry out a form of

scientific excavation, when in 1784 he dug a trench through an Indian mound on his

Virginia property, noting layers (or strata) of bones and burial artifacts.

II. EMERGENCE OF EGYPTIAN AND MESOPOTAMIAN ARCHAEOLOGY Beginnings of Methodological Excavation and Language Decipherment

A. EGYPT 18th Century

1. Giovanni Belzoni - plundered Egyptian tombs such as Abu Simbel, damaging many

"unprofitable" items such as numerous mummies "to rob the Egyptians of their papyri"

-- yet was considered somewhat scientific for his day.

2. Napoleon - 1790 took 175 scholars (architects, artists, historians, etc.) to Egypt with

his army. 1799 - Rosetta stone found by artillery officers. Confiscated by the British.

Opened hieroglyphics, with Demotic and Greek.

3. Jean Francois Champollion (Prof. of History and Oriental Languages at Grenoble at

age 19) succeeded in deciphering the hieroglyphics. Published results.

19th Century

1. Col. Richard W. H. Vyse - used gunpowder to enter a pyramid in 1837.

2. A.F.F. Mariette (Fr)-collected manuscripts from Memphis, Gizeh sphinx, Tanis,

Thebes. First to insist Egyptian authorities control excavation. Few still resorting to

the use of gunpowder.3. Karl R. Lepsius (Prussia) discovered

Proto-Dynastic and Early Dynastic tombs and mastabas in Egypt, as well as Ptolemaic

inscriptions.

4. Gaston C.C. Maspero (Fr) excavated pyramids & tombs of Pepi I, II, et al.

5. Sir Flinders Petrie - With British novelist Amelia Ann Stanford Edwards founded

British School of Archaeology in Egypt (Egyptian Exploration Society). Appalled at

the "excavation" methodology of his predecessors, Petrie developed more scientific

approach (see below). Excavated Tel el-Hesi in SW Palestine in 1890. Moved to

Palestine in 1926 BC due to difficulties in Egypt. Buried in Israel at Ecole Biblique.

B. MESOPOTAMIA AND ANATOLIA


17th - 18th Centuries

1. Cuneiform texts made their way to Europe (Br, Ger, Fr, Den, It) via diplomats, doctors, et

al travelers, beginning in 1621.

2. Decipherment of cuneiform ("wedge-shaped" from Latin cuneus) was gradual and slow.

George F. Grotefend (a high school classics teacher, who was knowledgeable in Sanskrit

and Pahlevi-desc. from Old Persian) deciphered some Old Persian names from

inscriptions from Persepolis, which had been suggested as the capital of the ancient

Achaemenid Empire. Yet cuneiform was far from translated. Persian modified

cuneiform contained about 41 known symbols. Its cuneiform ancestors were such as

Sumerian with 900+ pictographs which later became cuneiform representations; Old

Babylonian (Semitic) of Hammurabi (c.1750 BC) with 600-700 signs; to Middle

Babylonian with 350+; Elamite with 113 c.2500 BC; to 98 in Neo-Assyrian of 700 BC.

Sir Charles Rawlinson copied the Behistun inscription from the cliffs and worked on the

basic decipherment from 1835 to 1851.

* Note: It is estimated that only about 20% of the more than 500,000 cuneiform tablets have

yet been translated. e.g.- Donald J. Wiseman published some of the important Babylonian

Chronicles (9 tablets) in 1956 and Esarhaddon's treaties (1958), 80 years after they were

brought to the British Museum. Many thousands of others remain untouched after 100+

years.

19th Century

1. C.J. Rich - early 19th century. Excavated small tells near Baghdad and Kirkuk-Mosul.

2. P.E. Botta (Fr) - continued excavations at Mosul. Began at Nineveh.

3. Sir Austen H. Layard (Br) - Nineveh--Sennacherib's palace and Ashurbanipal's Palace

and library (25,000 tablets). Nimrud--palaces of Ashurnasirpal, Shalmaneser II,

Adadnirari, Esarhaddon (1845, 1852-53, 1878-82).

4. 1840-1850 - race between French and British to secure the most material national and

personal museums. Untrained men plundered sites for whole pottery, solid objects, clay

tablets, etc. Many damaged and lost, e.g.- Assyrian gate portal lost in Euphrates River.

5. Hormuzd Rassam and Sir Henry C. Rawlinson continued work for England.

Rawlinson is known especially for his work in copying the Behistun inscription which led

to the decipherment of cuneiform scripts (1837-).

6. Victor Place succeeded Botta in 1851, resumed excavation at Khorsabad palace of Sargon

II.

7. W. K. Loftus excavated at Erech (Uruk, Warka) 1850, 1953-54) & later Larsa.

8. Heinrich Schliemann (Ger pastor) identified the mound of Hissarlik as Troy using Iliad as

source text. Began digging 1870-72. With Wilhelm Dorpfeld (architect) published the first

archaeological report, citing nine strata in the mound.

9. E. de Sarzec at Lagash. Rassam resumed work at Nineveh and Babylon.

20th Century

1. Robert Koldewey excavated at Babylon 1899-1917 (Iraq). Others continued work at

Susa, Elam Lagash.

2. Hugo Winckler (Ger) began Hittite excavations at Boghazkoy (1906). Central Asia

Minor (Turkey). Germans, Austrians, & Turks have worked at numerous sites in

region.


3. Baron Max von Oppenheim excavated Tel Halaf, 1911-14, 1929-31. Prehistoric

Halafian culture defined, dated to 5th-4th M BC. Comparable material excavated at

Samaria by Herzfeld 1912-14, also at Arpachiya, Tepe Gawra, and Tel Billa in

Nineveh region.

4. Sir Leonard Woolley excavated Ur (1922, 1926-) and Al-'Ubaid (1923-25).

1926 discovered the Royal Tombs of the early Sumerians.

5. Erich Schmidt at Persepolis beginning in 1935.

*** Note: The nation of Iraq was established in 1932, and the IRAQ Dept. of Antiquities

has continued to excavate throughout Iraq with cooperative efforts of the British,

French and American schools of archaeology. Laws limiting the export of

archaeological artifacts were enacted as early as 1933.

6. 1949-1961 - excavation to Calah (Assyria).

7. 1965-present – Ebla >>15,000 tablets found in new "Eblaite" language, plus Sumerian

and Akkadian. Located in N. Syria, near Aleppo.

8. Note recent excavations at Tel Emar and Tel Leilan.

Numerous excavations have continued in Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Syria, Jordan, Egypt.

C. PALESTINE

19th Century

a. Surveys by: Irby and Mangles (1817-1818)

** Edward Robinson (Amer.) and Rev. Eli Smith (Protestant missionary in Beirut, fluent

in Arabic) in 1838 journeyed 105 days from Cairo to Beirut via Sinai, recording biblical

and geographical data, from which were produced 3 vols. Biblical Researches in

Palestine, Mount Sinai and Arabia Petraea (1841). Later in 1852 traveled in Galilee and

Samaria, compiling additional vols. on those regions and a Physical Geography of

Palestine.

b. Palestine Exploration Fund founded (1867-1870)

** C.R. Conder and H.H. Kitchner - a comprehensive survey under the Palestine

Exploration Fund – P.E.F. (1872-1887) - The Survey of Western Palestine (1881) and

Survey of Eastern Palestine (1889).

c. Ecole Biblique founded in 1870's (French) just West of Damascus gate.

d. Capt. Charles Warren began excavating Jerusalem, discovered water shaft to Gihon

Spring

e. Sir Flinders Petrie - developed more scientific excavation techniques at Tel el-Hesi:

(1890). Noted as first modern scientific excavation in the Holy Land. Stressed: a)

stratigraphy, b) ceramic chronology and typology, c) utilized metallurgists and botanists to

examine remains.

III. DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENTIFIC EXCAVATION METHODOLOGY (1900-1960)

A. Notable Excavations

1. 1900-1910 a. R.A.S. Macalister excavation of Gezer. Bliss & Macalister excavations.

b. American Schools of Oriental Research in Jerusalem and Baghdad founded.

c. Samaria excavation by Reisner, Fisher, and Lyon who further refined excavation

techniques.


2. 1920-1930 a. British Palestine Department of Antiquities founded, headed by John Garstang.

b. Beth-Shean (University of Pennsylvania)

c. Megiddo (University of Chicago)

d. W. F. Albright excavated Tel Beit Mirsim (Johns Hopkins University) who further

refined ceramic chronology.

e. Tel en-Nasbeh (Mizpah) by W.F. Bade.

f. Ophel Hill in Jerusalem (1927) by J.W. Crowfoot.

g. Beth-Shemesh (Rowe, et al.)

3. 1930-1940 a. Nelson Glueck (Jewish spy) survey of Transjordan (1933-1946)

b. Beth Shean, Megiddo and Beit Mirsim continued.

c. Jericho (British) by John Garstang

d. Lachish (British) by J. Starkey, L. Harding, O. Tufnell

e. Samaria (K. Kenyon, E.L. Sukenik - Br.)

f. Bethel (James Kelso and W.F. Albright)

4. 1947-1950 a. E.L. Sukenik obtains first of Dead Sea Scrolls. John Trever of the ASOR office in

Jerusalem photographs and authenticates antiquity of them w/ W.F. Albright.

b. Search for caves at Qumran begins. Qumran site excavate. 1951-56 by Fr.

Roland De Vaux c. Tel Qasile by Benjamin Mazar, first excavation established by the newly created

State of Israel.

5. 1950-1960 -- Israeli Archaeology comes of age

a. Nelson Glueck survey of Negev

b. Jericho, Jerusalem (Dame Kathleen Kenyon)

c. Shechem (ASOR - G. Ernest Wright)

d. Hazor, Yigael Yadin with Yohanon Aharoni

e. Gibeon (James Pritchard - University of Pennsylvania)

f. Dothan (James Free - Wheaton College)

g. Caesarea (M. Avi-Yonah; more recently under American consortium-CAHEP)

h. Ashdod (Moshe Dothan)

B. Stages of Development in Archaeological Excavation Methods 1. Area or Sectional Excavation - Sir Flinders Petrie, Heinrich Schliemann (1870s-1920)

Development of Principles of Stratigraphy and Typology

Beginning utilization of varied scientific disciplines

2. Reisner-Fisher Method -- Locus to Architecture 1920-1955) Excavation of architectural units’ rooms, buildings, palaces, defense walls, etc.

Expansion of utilization of scientific disciplines

3. Wheeler - Kenyon Method - Balk to Debris Layer (1955-present)

Survey utilizing Israel national grid system, subdivided into sections and squares

Recent used of subsurface radar to map subterranean structures prior to excavation

Future use of satellite technology in determination of areas to excavate

Balk (wall of earth between squares) preserved on perimeter of 5 X 5-meter square, To

preserve stratigraphic sequence and check on previous work


Development of scientific disciplines such as paleobotany, paleozoology, paleography, social

sciences related to ancient peoples, digital photography in deciphering ancient documents,

metallurgy, anthropology, chemistry, physics, et al.

IV. EXPANSION PERIOD: THE SCIENCE OF ARCHAEOLOGY (1960-present)

A. Key Excavations of the 1960s -- 1980s 1. Arad (Hebrew University – Aharoni -Iron Age and Ruth Amiram - EB)

2. Ein Gedi (Hebrew University)

3. Benjamin Mazar begins South wall of Temple Mount in Jerusalem after 1967 War.

4. Gezer (G.E. Wright, William Dever - Hebrew Union College)

5. Deir Allah (Scandinavia)

6. Taanach (ASOR) - Paul Lapp

7. Ai (SBTS - Joseph Callaway)

8. Heshbon (Andrews University under Harold Stigers)

9. Dan (Avraham Biran - Tel Aviv University) - continues to present

10. Ashdod (D.N. Freedman, A. Biran, Moshe Dothan)

11. Joppa (Israeli)

12. Capernaum (RC-Franciscan fathers, recently w/ Vassilios Tsaferis)

13. Tel el-Hesi (ASOR)

14. Caesarea (Drew University and consortium)

15. Khirbet Shema (ASOR - Eric and Carol Meyers)

16. Beersheba (Y. Aharoni - Tel Aviv University)

17. Aphek/Antipatris (Tel Aviv U.- NOBTS under M. Kohavi - G. Kelm)

18. Lachish (Y. Aharoni, A. Rainey, D. Ussishkin - Tel Aviv University)

19. Tel Qasile (B. Mazar, Amihai Mazar)

20. Timnah--Tel Batash (A. Mazar--Hebrew Univ, G. Kelm--NOBTS, SWBTS)

B. Present - Scores of major and minor sites are excavated yearly.

For 2013 see BAR January 2016 issue, Recent Excavations include such sites as:

Beth Shean (Scythopolis) Hazor Tel Haror (=Gerar?)

Tel Halif (En Rimmon) Jezreel Bethsaida

Caesarea Philippi (Banias) Tel Qasile Sepphoris

Caesarea Maritima Ashkelon Mareshah (Marisa)

Tel Hadar (Geshurites?) Ekron Qumran caves

Petra (Edomite & Nabatean strata) Dor Nahal Beersheba survey

Tel Malhata Tiberias Yodefat (Jotapata)

Yarmuth Dan Pella

Wadi Mujib Project Abila Plains of Moab Project

Apollonia el-Burj Nebi Samuel

Megiddo Chinnereth Tel Rehov

Tel es-Safi (Gath) Gezer Tel Zeitah

Tel Qeiyafa (Sha`araim?) Beth Shemesh Hippus/Susita

Abel Beth-Maacah Cana of Galilee Azek